Makati CBD’s extended elevated walkway to lessen dependence on cars

Now, pedestrians at Makati’s central business district will enjoy a longer elevated walkway.

On Monday, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay and officials of the Makati Commercial Estate Association (MaCEA) inaugurated an extended De La Rosa Elevated Walkway that provides pedestrians and commuters a safer way to their destination.

MaCEA’s latest project extended the walkway by 305 meters more, from VA Rufino Street to Salcedo Street. Built at a cost of P110.6 million over a year and eight months, the walkway now spans to about 1,100 meters, making it the country’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway.

The De La Rosa Elevated Walkway has serviced hundreds of thousands of pedestrians since its first phase was built from the Enterprise Center in Paseo de Roxas to Greenbelt. Today, with the elevated walkway’s connection to Ayala Center, commuters have the option to start from the Ayala MRT station on EDSA and comfortably walk all the way down to Makati Medical Center fully protected from the sun and rain.

“The walkway offers workers, residents, and transients safety, comfort, convenience and protective cover on their short trips to the commercial center and back. There are many benefits to walking, and savings on gas and the vehicle’s wear and tear. Reduced vehicular traffic in the district will also have a positive impact on the environment,” MaCEA president David L. Balangue said.

MaCEA, composed of all the property owners within the Makati Central Business District (MCBD), revealed that about P497 million have been invested so far in Makati CBD’s pedestrianization program. The group has been a primary mover in the district’s development, building seven underpasses, on-grade covered sidewalks and the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway. MaCEA expects to invest approximately P150 million more for its pedestrianization program in 2017.

“We envisioned the program as a network of tri-level pedestrian pathways composed of underground passageways, on-grade covered sidewalks, and elevated walkways,” said Balangue. “Ultimately, it will encourage motorists to leave their cars and join the pedestrians on short trips to the commercial center and back, which is the core objective of the pedestrianization program.”

The project was inaugurated in rites led by MaCEA vice president Arch. William V. Coscolluela and Mayor Abigail Binary.

MaCEA has more ongoing and upcoming projects to benefit residents, workers and visitors to the country’s premier finance, business and commercial district. Sidewalk enhancements for De La Rosa and Valero streets as well as its connecting streets are under way. An on-grade covered walkway along Valero, VA Rufino and De La Rosa Streets near Makati Medical Center,and an above-grade pedestrian crossing at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue are also under construction.

An escalator replacement program will soon upgrade existing facilities. The installation of a wayfinding system in key areas, and the re-development of the Legazpi Village and Washington Sycip parks will also be undertaken.